Penn State, Belton avoid heartbreaker vs. Illinois in overtime

State College -- Bill Belton sat a bit slumped in his postgame interview room chair. Not much of a smile. Not really a frown.

He answered one question after another about as quietly and laid back as possible following a 200-yard rushing performance ... and a critical fumble lost ... and a crucial overtime victory gained.

He was simply chilling after Penn State's dramatic save of what nearly became one of its most heart-sinking defeats.

He was, after all, the Nittany Lions' No. 1 star for most of the afternoon before nearly ruining things at the end of regulation -- only to quickly recover to help win it in overtime and possibly prevent the season from tail-spinning to who-knows-where.

The guy playing only his second season at running back since junior high keyed this must-have, 24-17 Big Ten victory over Illinois in front of three-quarters-filled Beaver Stadium.

Belton broke loose from beginning to end for 201 rushing yards on 36 carries (5.6 average), scored one touchdown and came within an excruciating two yards of another.

Yet, afterwards, he talked as if he had played a backup role in a September blowout against some directional school.

"I'm trying to hold it in, trying not to get too excited with the season and how it's going right now (for me). I don't want to dwell on any games, anything like that. I just want to keep pushing through. We can celebrate things like this after the season."

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For now, this Penn State autumn grinds on with hope for a solid finish, so pertinent after the historic failure at Ohio State.

And Illinois seemed the perfect remedy: a struggling opponent crumbling on offense that has offered little defensive resistance throughout. A team that simply was finding ways to lose.

That's exactly how this meeting began, too, with the Lions playing sloppy but controlling the action. They surged ahead 14-0, although they should have had more.

And yet, when Christian Hackenberg and the offense couldn't close the deal on later scoring drives, the Illini hung in and crept back. The stadium grumbles then turned into groans when a short Nate Scheelhaase pass completed the Illini rally with only 4:46 to play.

Sure enough, Hackenberg lofted long and left to Robinson, who hauled in a leaping, falling spectacle-of-a-sideline catch to the 5-yard line, almost exact in style and placement to the one he made against Michigan.

Remember, the true junior didn't play tailback in high school in New Jersey. He was a quarterback. He also didn't play tailback when he came to Penn State. He was a receiver.

He said he had not played the position since the eighth grade -- until new coach Bill O'Brien converted him before the 2012 season.

Of course, he injured his ankle in the season-opener then was benched for practice and performance issues and lost most of last fall.

But O'Brien stuck with him, talking up his improved attitude and worth ethic every chance he got since. With starter Zach Zwinak struggling with fumbling issues, Belton took over against Michigan and has looked stronger and more effective each Saturday.

"It was a lot of information to retain (last year)," Belton said. "It wasn't overwhelming, but I was thinking too much. I'm more comfortable now and have a year under my belt, that's basically why I'm having the success I'm having.

"I enjoyed last year even though I struggled ... because it taught me a lot."

O'Brien had this to say after Illinois: "He has really turned the corner in a lot of areas, on and off the field. He is doing better in school and he is becoming a better running back. ... He was a receiver, and it's not easy to make that move. It takes a while to learn how to play that position."

Belton is now combining patience waiting for blockers with aggressive decisions hitting running lanes, in ways only a tailback can truly understand.

Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson makes a 39-yard-catch during the fourth quarter of Penn State's 24-17 overtime victory against Illinois at Beaver Stadium in State College on Saturday. (Jason Plotkin — Daily Record/Sunday News)

Take this third-quarter run with the Lions clinging to a four-point lead: He took the handoff, found a hole in the middle but, without slowing, made a jump-cut right to free himself. He turned a four-yard gain into 16.

That's the kind of progress he showed in carrying a career-best 27 times for 85 yards and scoring the game-ending touchdown against Michigan.

He was quicker and even more productive at No. 4 Ohio State, gaining 98 yards.

And better still against the Illini.

But with two minutes left on the 3-yard line?

He picked the absolute worst time for his first fumble of the season, inexplicably losing the ball as he twisted and stretched after being stopped.

"We try to tell him not to reach for the goal line, but he did," O'Brien said. "So we have got to fix that. But, other than that, he had one hell of a football game."

Fortunately, the Penn State defense held and gave him another chance.

As he waited, he thought, "I got to get back on the field and make up for it. That was my mind-set. It wasn't like I was down."

He immediately ran for 15 yards to set up the tying field goal.

He ran for 14 more in overtime to set up the winning touchdown pass.

Afterwards, he exhibited unmatched self-control. No boasting, no excitement, few smiles, even.

He has learned from last year.

He learned from Saturday's fumble.

"A lot of stuff gets me excited, but I don't allow myself to show it."

Not yet, at least. He figures to have plenty of time ahead for things like that.

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